Buddhist Churches of America

The Buddhist Churches of America (BCA), comprised of some 65 temples, branch temples, fellowships and groups, which represent the community of Shin Buddhists in the United States. It is the continental U.S. branch of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha Pure Land School of Buddhism with headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. Hawaii has its own branch known as the Hompa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.

Although the BCA’s headquarters are in San Francisco, California, the member groups of the BCA span across the continent, from San Francisco to Denver to New York. The reasons are historical – Shin Buddhism first arrived from Japan in Hawaii in 1889 along with the immigrating Japanese workers. As the immigrants moved further east towards the west coast of the United States, Shin Buddhism established itself on the U.S. mainland in 1899. 

BCA temples are not only spiritual but also community centers, offering educational and recreational programs for all ages from pre-school through seniors. Churches and temples also engage in various outreach programs, conduct study classes, and sponsor various social and service associations.

The BCA’s education program is based in the Jodo Shinshu Center located near the University of California Berkeley campus. The Jodo Shinshu Center houses the Center for Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Studies which is dedicated to providing continuing education for ministers, ministerial training, and educational programs for lay leaders and youth. The Jodo Shinshu Center is also home to the BCA’s seminary and graduate school known as the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS) which is an affiliate of the Graduate Theological Union. The IBS offers a graduate degree in Buddhist Studies and provides courses for those interested in becoming a Shin Buddhist minister or chaplain. The IBS also offers on-line courses. The Center for Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Studies, also located in the Jodo Shinshu Center, is also developing an on-line course and will also manage the Ashoka correspondence course. Other tenants of the Jodo Shinshu Center will be an overseas office of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha and Ryukoku University, both of which are based in Kyoto, Japan. The BCA Buddhist Bookstore will also operate out of the Jodo Shinshu Center.

Today, the BCA seeks to continue its outreach and expansion in order to become, “a major religious tradition in the United States.” BCA was featured in a recent NY Times article on adaptation of traditions, showing how it is now offering meditation – not traditional practice for BCA affiliates. The BCA is led by Socho (Bishop) Koshin Ogui, who serves on the Religions for Peace-USA’s Council of Presidents.